James Mariner

James Mariner is a journalist who has been boring The Independent sports desk with mindless statistics since June 2007. Helping with various, wide-ranging desk duties (I made the tea once), supervising workies and the endless researching of panels, James has an unnatural love of all things football, and in particular the Europa League, being a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. He cites Brian Sears and Ledley King among his heroes and can even find something interesting in Burnley v Hull City. On a good day.

Tottenham Hotspur were drawn against the Cypriot club AEL Limassol in the Europa League play-offs yesterday. Spurs reached the last 16 of the competition last season before losing to the eventual finalists and runners-up, Benfica.